Esta tese, utilizando-se do mapa cognitivo Strategic Options Development and Analysis - SODA, se propôs a atender o objetivo nela especificado, ou seja, avaliar a importância do comprometimento organizacional para a implementação de um Sistema de Gestão Ambiental SGA por parte dos quinze Gerentes de uma Instituição Pública Federal, localizada no estado de São Paulo. Os dados que compuserem o mapa cognitivo, foram obtidos por meio de entrevista face a face, no período de maio a novembro de 2015, e de reuniões grupais com os referidos Gerentes, no período de dezembro de 2015 a março de 2016. A utilização do método de estruturação de problemas - Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) - mapa cognitivo - SODA possibilitou investigar, as possíveis incertezas, complexidades e conflitos, voltados para o elemento comprometimento, provenientes da adoção de uma gestão ambiental, por intermédio da implementação de um Sistema de Gestão Ambiental SGA. O resultado da análise do mapa cognitivo demonstrou a importância do comprometimento organizacional quando da intenção de se adotar um Sistema de Gestão Ambiental. Diferentemente do entendimento de Barbieri (2007), o presente estudo coloca a importância desse comportamento não somente por parte da alta direção, mas também por parte de toda a equipe a ser envolvida nas atividades concernentes a tal sistema. Permitiu também a construção de um modelo de mensuração do comprometimento em relação ao Sistema de Gestão Ambiental SGA. O comprometimento mensurado por meio de referido instrumento, está dividido em dois componentes: afetivo que tem o comprometimento como um apego, como um envolvimento, onde ocorre a identificação com a empresa, funcionários com forte comprometimento afetivo permanecem na empresa porque querem, e normativo o comprometimento como uma obrigação em permanecer na organização, funcionários identificados com esse comportamento permanecem na empresa porque sentem que tem essa obrigação. O modelo de mensuração do comprometimento neste estudo sugerido, a ser validado em estudos longitudinais, permitirá mapear elementos de forma que possam observar tendências. Referido instrumento não foi validado neste estudo, no entanto sugere-se que estudos futuros, por meio de estudos longitudinais procedam sua validação. / This thesis, using the Cognitive Map Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA), is proposed to meet the objective specified therein, i.e. to evaluate the importance of the organizational commitment to the implementation of an Environmental Management System (SGA), by the fifteen Managers of a Federal Public Institution, located in the state of São Paulo. The data composing the cognitive map were obtained through a face-to-face interview, from May to November 2015, and group meetings with the aforementioned managers from December 2015 to March 2016. The use of the Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) SODA cognitive map made it feasible to investigate possible uncertainties, complexities and conflicts, related to the commitment element, from the adoption of the environmental management through the implementation of An Environmental Management System EMS. The results of the cognitive map analysis showed the importance of the organizational commitment, when an Environmental Management System is intended to be adopted. Differently from Barbieri\'s (2007) understanding, the present study places the importance of this behavior, not only by the top management, but also by the whole team to be involved in the activities related to such a system. It, also, allowed the construction of a commitment measurement model in relation to the Environmental Management System - EMS. The commitment measured by this instrument is divided into two components: affective, which has the commitment as an attachment and, even, involvement, where the identification with the company occurs: employees with strong affective commitment remain in the company because they want it and, also, as normative involvement. The commitment is felt as an obligation to remain in the organization: employees identified with this behavior remain in the company because they feel they should do it. The model of commitment measurement in this suggested survey, to be validated in longitudinal studies, will allow elements to be mapped so that trends may be observed. The mentioned instrument was not validated in this study, however, it is suggested that future research, through longitudinal studies, would do it.

O principal objetivo dessa pesquisa consistiu em desenvolver e analisar uma ferramenta de transformação de textos escritos por estudantes em mapas cognitivos para fornecer de forma visual, global e sintética, uma visão das principais relações conceituais citadas em um conjunto de textos. A ferramenta foi estruturada em dois momentos: primeiramente os textos foram lidos para a geração de uma matriz de associação que representa as relações encontradas entre cada par de conceitos. Em seguida, as matrizes foram somadas e, a partir da matriz final, foram construídos diferentes tipos de mapas cognitivos. Para o desenvolvimento de tal ferramenta, foram coletados dados na disciplina Introdução ao Ensino de Química do curso de licenciatura em química do IQ-USP. Essa disciplina foi organizada em três módulos denominados: natureza da ciência, concepções de ensino e aprendizagem, e natureza do conhecimento químico e a aprendizagem da química. No final de cada módulo, foi aplicada uma questão dissertativa com uma lista de conceitos pré-selecionados que objetivava conhecer as relações conceituais expressas pelos estudantes sobre o tema em questão. A partir das respostas dos alunos foram realizados alguns testes: (i) com o software ALA-Reader® e os seus modos de leitura L e S para a quantificação das relações entre conceitos presentes nos textos e geração da matriz de associação; (ii) para verificação da influência da natureza dos textos na contabilização das relações entre conceitos e na elaboração dos mapas e (iii) para a obtenção das representações gráficas do tipo vizinho(s) mais próximo(s) e corte percentual representativo. A partir dos testes realizados, foi possível concluir que o modo de leitura S do programa ALA-Reader® é mais coerente e deve ser utilizado para a leitura dos textos. Além disso, a matriz de associação gerada depende essencialmente da estrutura do texto em questão - texto original ou texto modificado para proposições, tendo em vista a diferença na contabilização das relações par a par encontradas nos textos. Os dois tipos de redes de conceitos apresentam diferentes focos, porém, podem ser considerados complementares. As redes vizinho(s) mais próximo(s) se mostraram interessantes para análises que requerem todos os conceitos fornecidos ou almejam buscar as relações feitas por determinados conceitos. As redes com corte percentual representativo apresentaram-se auxiliares para investigações que requeiram fazer um recorte nos pontos considerados principais pelos sujeitos. No discorrer do texto, também são apresentados alguns recursos que podem ser acrescidos nas redes de conceitos para auxiliar as análises, como a inserção das frases de ligação gerando um mapa conceitual ou o destaque dos conceitos centrais nas estruturas. Com o objetivo de ilustrar o uso das representações gráficas construídas, foi feita uma breve interpretação dessas no contexto da disciplina na qual os dados foram coletados. A partir dessa análise, foi possível, por exemplo, elencar as principais ideias explicitadas pelos alunos e relacioná-las ao que foi discutido em sala de aula. / The main objective of this research was to develop and analyze a tool to turn texts written by students into cognitive maps to provide a visual, global and synthetic representation of the key conceptual relationships mentioned in a set of texts. The tool was structured in two phases: first the texts were read to generate a proximity file representing the relationships found between each pair of concepts. Then, the proximity files were added and from the final file different types of cognitive maps were built. For the development of this tool, data were collected in the academic discipline entitled Introduction to Teaching Chemistry, for the degree in Chemistry at IQ-USP. This academic discipline was organized in three modules called: nature of science, conceptions of teaching and learning, and the nature of chemical knowledge and Chemistry learning. At the end of each module, an essay question was applied with a list of pre-selected concepts that aimed to investigate the conceptual relations established by the students on the topic in question. From students\' responses some tests were performed: (i) with the ALA-Reader® software and its reading modes L and S to quantify the relationships between concepts present in texts and generate the proximity file, (ii) to verify the influence of the nature of the texts in the accounting of the relationships between concepts and in the elaboration of maps, and (iii) to obtain graphical representations of close neighbors type and representative percentage cut. Based on the tests, it was concluded that the mode S of reading of the ALA Reader® program is more consistent and should be used for the reading of the texts. Furthermore, the proximity file generated depends essentially on the structure of the text in question - the original text or the modified one for propositions, in view of the difference in the accounting of conceptual relations found in the texts. The two types of networks of concepts have different focuses, however, they can be considered complementary. The close neighbors networks were interesting for analysis which require all concepts provided or aim to seek relations established by certain concepts. Networks with representative percentage cut proved to be auxiliary for those investigations which require a cut in the main points considered by the subjects. Throughout the text, some features that can be added to the networks to support the analysis are also presented, such as: the insertion of linking phrases generating a concept map or the highlight of the central concepts in the structures. In order to illustrate the use of graphical representations built, a brief interpretation of them was made based on the context of the academic discipline in which the data were collected. This study enabled, for example, the development of a list the main ideas conveyed by students and the possibility to relate them to what was discussed in class

Providing healthcare to the ever-rising elderly population has become a severe challenge and a top priority. Emerging innovations in healthcare, such as remote health monitoring technologies, promise to provide a better quality of care and reduce the cost of healthcare. However, many elderly people reject healthcare innovations. This lack of adoption constitutes a big practical problem because it keeps the elderly from benefiting from technology advances. The phenomenon is even more pronounced among elderly women, who represent the majority of the elderly population. A plethora of studies in the field of technology adoption resulted in sound, but highly generalized theories that are too parsimonious to provide practical insight into the phenomenon of elderly healthcare technology adoption (EHTA). There is a call to arms for novel approaches that facilitate the creation of models that expand technology adoption theories to the specifics of EHTA. This dissertation is a response to this call to arms, and it contributes to modeling practice in the EHTA field. It uses fuzzy cognitive mapping to design a novel mixed-methods modeling approach. Since elderly women constitute the majority of the elderly population, this dissertation treats elderly women's health technology adoption (EWHTA) as the case-in-point.

As human beings we are continually interacting with the landscape, and have been doing so throughout the entire course of our evolution. This thesis specifically investigates the way in which hunter-gatherers negotiate and interact with their landscapes, focusing on three patterns of behaviour: wayfinding, mapmaking and territoriality. An examination of the relevant international literature reveals that globally, hunter-gatherer groups both past and present share a number of similarities with regard to their wayfinding and mapmaking techniques, territorial behaviour. A case study of Maori interaction with the landscape of prehistoric and protohistoric Te Wai Pounamu [the South Island] provides further support for the central argument that hunter-gatherers collectively negotiate and interact with the landscape in distinctive ways. This is contrasted with the interaction of European explorers and travellers with the 19th century landscape of Te Wai Pounamu in Chapter 5. It is determined that hunter-gatherers use detailed cognitive or 'mental' maps to navigate their way through a range of landscape from dense forests to barren plains. These maps often consist of sequences of place names that represent trails. These cognitive maps are most commonly developed through direct interaction with the landscape, but can also be formed vicariously through ephemeral maps drawn with the purpose of communicating geographical knowledge. Prior to European contact, little importance seems to have been given to artefactual or 'permanent' maps within hunter-gatherer societies as the process of mapmaking was generally regarded as more significant than the actual product. Although the literature on hunter-gatherer territoriality is complex and in some cases conflicting, it is contended that among a number of hunter-gatherer groups, including prehistoric and protohistoric Maori in Te Wai Pounamu, interaction and negotiation with the landscape was/is not restricted to exclusive territories marked by rigidly defined boundaries. Among these groups, a specific method of territoriality known as 'social boundry defence' was/is employed. This involves controlling access to the social group inhabiting an area rather than access to the area itself, as with groups utilising the territorial method of 'perimeter defence'.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--Acadia University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-91). Also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität Bremen, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-168).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Akron, Dept. of English, 2007. / "May, 2007." Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed 4/26/2009) Advisor, Sheryl Stevenson; Faculty Reader, Bob Pope; Department Chair, Diana Reep; Dean of the College, Ronald F. Levant; Dean of the Graduate School, George R. Newkome. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-81). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University, 1995. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Frank Smith. Dissertation Committee: Jeannette Fleischner. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-174).

Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία παρουσιάζονται τα ιατρικά συστήματα λήψης απόφασης (MDSS) και αρχιτεκτονικές ανάπτυξή τους. Πραγματεύεται τις έννοιες του ευφυούς ελέγχου και της ασάφειας για να καταλήξει στον όρο Ασαφή Γνωστικά Δίκτυα(FCΜ). Αφού περιγράφεται αναλυτικά η ανάπτυξή, ο καθορισμός των παραμέτρων και οι μεθοδολογίες εκμάθησης ενός Ασαφούς Γνωστικού Δικτύου, καταλήγει τελικά στην εφαρμογή τους στον χώρο της ιατρικής. Τέλος, ακολουθεί το μοντέλο ενός Ασαφούς Ελεγκτή για ιατρικές εφαρμογές και η ανάπτυξη ενός MDSS για την εύρεση Κάκωσης Γόνατος με αρχιτεκτονικές Ανταγωνιστικού Ασαφούς Γνωστικού Δικτύου (CFCΜ). / The thesis represents the medical decision support systems (MDSS) and their architecture. Starting with the concepts of intelligent control and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCM), it describes in detail the development, the setting parameters, and the learning methods of FCMs, with the purpose of their application into the field of medicine. Finally, it illustrates the model of a Fuzzy Controller for medical applications and the development of an MDSS for finding knee injury with the architecture of Competitive FCMs (CFCM).